Prado, Kobin Beat the Rains and Take La Ruta Titles

After battling for three grueling days, competitors at La Ruta de los Conquistadores faced another menacing obstacle on the race’s final day—unrelenting rains. The Caribbean clouds opened and rain fell from the heavens all Friday night and throughout Saturday.

Setting a fast pace, the small leading group left the town of Turrialba headed toward the railroad tracks in the lowlands. There, riders crossed more than 30 miles of tracks, including narrow bridges crossing rivers surging from the recent rains. Organizers even employed special carts to carry some racers suffering from vertigo across the bridges.

Stage Four's second bridge crossing, over the Second bridge crossing, over the Reventazón River. Photo J. Andrés Vargas

The level of the swollen rivers forced the organization to detour the race for 10 miles on a nearby highway. The new route remained open to traffic, and cars, buses and trucks became just one more race hazard. Flat tires, blown drivetrains and busted wheels were seen all through this section.

The rain, and the course, were not insurmountable, however. Costa Rican native Manuel Prado, who now lives in California, held on to his lead and took the overall men’s title, even though he lost the stage to third-place finisher Deiber Esquivel.

The inclement weather proved even more beneficial to women’s overall winner Louise Kobin. She entered the day several minutes behind Adriana Rojas, but won the stage by more than 25 minutes to claim the overall title.